cars that could have been good/great...

Maserati Man · Mar 19, 2006, 12:31 AM

well, i got the idea for this thread when i was looking at the Impala SS. it's a very reasonably priced, good looking, large family sedan with a pretty powerful V8. it even has a very good quality and good looking interior, and it gets good mpg due to DOD (displacement on demand) technology which shuts off 4 cylinders when they aren't needed, as found in the Dalmer Chrysler Hemi. all good right? well, if you think 303 hp and 323lb-ft torque to the front wheels is a good things.

oh darn. ruined isn't the right word, but it would be a much better car had it not been for the drivetrain. same with the Monte Carlo SS. maybe even more so with the Monte Carlo, because it's a coupe and it weighs almost 300lbs lighter. i just think it's that good looking of a car, mainly because the back end is ugly.

so that's how i got the idea for this thread. initially i was gonna make it "cars ruined because they are FWD" or somehting of that nature, but i decided to make it a thread where people post their opinions about initially good cars "ruined" by one or two traits.

so if you have anything to say on the subject, i'd love to hear your opinions.

Ghalos · Mar 19, 2006, 12:59 AM

Ohhh the timing, I saw the Impala SS commercial last night with my g/f and she goes, "That's a cool car, and with that power you'd like it!"
Me-"Well, not really, it's Front-wheel-drive, so it's like my car when I nail the gas, a pain in the rear to drive...Now, imagine that, but about three times as bad, and in a bigger car".

Her-"Oh...you ruined my fun".

Point being, good idea man.

Mopar68 · Mar 19, 2006, 1:04 AM

I don't mind that the Impala SS is bad because it's FWD. I mean, bobody is going to be road racing those things. They're made to go straight. It's a cheap thrill. It works for what it's trying to be. Plus, GM would have to spend tons of money and time to make a new chassis to handle RWD. Also, FWD provides room, and above all, the Impala is a car that provides room for the whole family. The SS just so happens to have a big engine.

There are tons of cars today that could've been so much more. Why aren't cars these days all they could be? A couple of factors, really. The three main factors are:

1. Hippie liberals who want to do crazy things like "save the ozone" and "protect pedestrians when they get hit". Jeez, why don't they just strap four wheels on a pillow and run it on hopes and dreams.

2. Old people don't want hardcore performance, they just want to plant their foot on the gas and have the engine make a cool sound. In reality, nobody road races. They just like to drive on the free way really fast. You don't need a car that has a manual or RWD to do that.

3. True car enthusiasts are becoming extinct. A good amount of people people who like cars just like them for rims or sounds sytems. Just watch an episode of that show "Unique whips", and you'll understand.

I'll find a couple of cars that I think could've made a huge difference. The Dodge neon is the first that comes to mind. Second is the Chevy Aveo (sorry Crossle). The last is the Mercedes McLaren SLR for obvious reasons.

Maserati Man · Mar 19, 2006, 1:13 AM

i'm not going to reply to anything else you said because i agree with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopar68

I don't mind that the Impala SS is bad because it's FWD. I mean, bobody is going to be road racing those things. They're made to go straight. It's a cheap thrill. It works for what it's trying to be. Plus, GM would have to spend tons of money and time to make a new chassis to handle RWD. Also, FWD provides room, and above all, the Impala is a car that provides room for the whole family. The SS just so happens to have a big engine.

i don't really care how much money it would take for GM to build another chassis for the Impala, it would be a much better car with the new chassis. plus, even if they lost money last quarter, they are still a multi-billion dollar company. they can afford to make a new chassis. and besides, haven't you heard the saying "it takes money to make money"?

hopefully i made that clear enough to get my point through.

and, if you want a car for the whole family, why put in a big engine with the intent of making the car sporty?

Diesel349 · Mar 19, 2006, 1:21 AM

I think that they would spend the money to make a new chassis but would not gain enough new customers to make a profit of that chassis. The people that would buy an Impala don't factor in the chassis and FWD or RWD. Don't know if it's true.....it's just what I think.

Maserati Man · Mar 19, 2006, 1:56 AM

i'd hope the average consumer would learn about the car they are planning to buy. why would you want to be ignorant on something you are paying money for?

man, if people are accually like that, no wonder they are so easy to scam.

i have no faith in my fellow man.

SLR Mclaren · Mar 19, 2006, 6:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maserati Man

i have no faith in my fellow man.

Lol. Good point. Wait till you see a Mclaren F1 or a Bugatti Veyron then say that.

pieman101 · Mar 19, 2006, 9:16 AM

Limiters on german cars like M's and AMG's the autobahn's have no limit

Oh yeah and the 112mph limiter on imported skylines

vmax · Mar 19, 2006, 9:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pieman101

Limiters on german cars like M's and AMG's the autobahn's have no limit

and Audis although there have been several reports of stock RS6's doing 180mph. Also I heard that that MB, BMW and Audi were having talks about scrapping the agreement because of which they place limiters on the top speed. Anyway limiters can easliy be removed by someone who knows what their doing.

Maserati Man · Mar 19, 2006, 11:38 AM

but it voids the warrenty...

Coops · Mar 19, 2006, 11:51 AM

One car comes to mind when i read that title, the BMW 8 series. It was a good car but it could have been great, everyone has seen what McLaren has done with the engine. Its a pity there was never a true M8 but the 850 csi was a very good car.

Diesel349 · Mar 19, 2006, 11:55 AM

I concur.
I liked the 8 Series and would buy one myself if I could drive. very nice car that had potential.

vmax · Mar 19, 2006, 1:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maserati Man

but it voids the warrenty...

the changes in programming they make are electronically invisible

Maserati Man · Mar 19, 2006, 6:00 PM

i did not know that.

bossesjoe · Mar 20, 2006, 12:29 AM

Car that could have been great? Corvair....

oh Ralph Nader, how I hate you...

Mar 19, 2006, 12:31 AM	#1
Maserati Man CCC for life Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tucson A to the Z Posts: 4,559	cars that could have been good/great... well, i got the idea for this thread when i was looking at the Impala SS. it's a very reasonably priced, good looking, large family sedan with a pretty powerful V8. it even has a very good quality and good looking interior, and it gets good mpg due to DOD (displacement on demand) technology which shuts off 4 cylinders when they aren't needed, as found in the Dalmer Chrysler Hemi. all good right? well, if you think 303 hp and 323lb-ft torque to the front wheels is a good things. oh darn. ruined isn't the right word, but it would be a much better car had it not been for the drivetrain. same with the Monte Carlo SS. maybe even more so with the Monte Carlo, because it's a coupe and it weighs almost 300lbs lighter. i just think it's that good looking of a car, mainly because the back end is ugly. so that's how i got the idea for this thread. initially i was gonna make it "cars ruined because they are FWD" or somehting of that nature, but i decided to make it a thread where people post their opinions about initially good cars "ruined" by one or two traits. so if you have anything to say on the subject, i'd love to hear your opinions. __________________ "I wouldn't marry a salad bar... Unless it had pudding." - Penn Jillette Last edited by Maserati Man : Mar 19, 2006 at 12:43 AM.

Mar 19, 2006, 12:59 AM	#2
Ghalos SCF Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 12,604	Ohhh the timing, I saw the Impala SS commercial last night with my g/f and she goes, "That's a cool car, and with that power you'd like it!" Me-"Well, not really, it's Front-wheel-drive, so it's like my car when I nail the gas, a pain in the rear to drive...Now, imagine that, but about three times as bad, and in a bigger car". Her-"Oh...you ruined my fun". Point being, good idea man. __________________ "I couldn't fire someone today and it made me sick, firing people is a perk of my job!"

Mar 19, 2006, 1:04 AM	#3
Mopar68 The anti-hippie Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Westfield, New Jersey Posts: 7,488	I don't mind that the Impala SS is bad because it's FWD. I mean, bobody is going to be road racing those things. They're made to go straight. It's a cheap thrill. It works for what it's trying to be. Plus, GM would have to spend tons of money and time to make a new chassis to handle RWD. Also, FWD provides room, and above all, the Impala is a car that provides room for the whole family. The SS just so happens to have a big engine. There are tons of cars today that could've been so much more. Why aren't cars these days all they could be? A couple of factors, really. The three main factors are: 1. Hippie liberals who want to do crazy things like "save the ozone" and "protect pedestrians when they get hit". Jeez, why don't they just strap four wheels on a pillow and run it on hopes and dreams. 2. Old people don't want hardcore performance, they just want to plant their foot on the gas and have the engine make a cool sound. In reality, nobody road races. They just like to drive on the free way really fast. You don't need a car that has a manual or RWD to do that. 3. True car enthusiasts are becoming extinct. A good amount of people people who like cars just like them for rims or sounds sytems. Just watch an episode of that show "Unique whips", and you'll understand. I'll find a couple of cars that I think could've made a huge difference. The Dodge neon is the first that comes to mind. Second is the Chevy Aveo (sorry Crossle). The last is the Mercedes McLaren SLR for obvious reasons. __________________ "....give it everything you've got cause it'll throw you back more than you could ever imagine." -WP

Mar 19, 2006, 1:21 AM	#5
Diesel349 Sugar, water, purple. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA(school) Maplewood, NJ(home) Posts: 3,139	I think that they would spend the money to make a new chassis but would not gain enough new customers to make a profit of that chassis. The people that would buy an Impala don't factor in the chassis and FWD or RWD. Don't know if it's true.....it's just what I think. __________________ You are not a whore. But you are wearing a whores uniform.

Mar 19, 2006, 1:56 AM	#6
Maserati Man CCC for life Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tucson A to the Z Posts: 4,559	i'd hope the average consumer would learn about the car they are planning to buy. why would you want to be ignorant on something you are paying money for? man, if people are accually like that, no wonder they are so easy to scam. i have no faith in my fellow man. __________________ "I wouldn't marry a salad bar... Unless it had pudding." - Penn Jillette

Mar 19, 2006, 9:16 AM	#8
pieman101 King Of Random Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,260	Limiters on german cars like M's and AMG's the autobahn's have no limit Oh yeah and the 112mph limiter on imported skylines __________________ I Dont Think, I Post

Mar 19, 2006, 11:38 AM	#10
Maserati Man CCC for life Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tucson A to the Z Posts: 4,559	but it voids the warrenty... __________________ "I wouldn't marry a salad bar... Unless it had pudding." - Penn Jillette

Mar 19, 2006, 11:51 AM	#11
Coops Experienced Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Derry, Ireland Posts: 697	One car comes to mind when i read that title, the BMW 8 series. It was a good car but it could have been great, everyone has seen what McLaren has done with the engine. Its a pity there was never a true M8 but the 850 csi was a very good car.

Mar 19, 2006, 11:55 AM	#12
Diesel349 Sugar, water, purple. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA(school) Maplewood, NJ(home) Posts: 3,139	I concur. I liked the 8 Series and would buy one myself if I could drive. very nice car that had potential. __________________ You are not a whore. But you are wearing a whores uniform.

Mar 19, 2006, 6:00 PM	#14
Maserati Man CCC for life Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tucson A to the Z Posts: 4,559	i did not know that. __________________ "I wouldn't marry a salad bar... Unless it had pudding." - Penn Jillette

Mar 20, 2006, 12:29 AM	#15
bossesjoe matlab hates me :( Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OH/VA USA Posts: 7,905	Car that could have been great? Corvair.... oh Ralph Nader, how I hate you... __________________ 10mm and SBC for life! -Infernal Combustion

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